Gifted and Talented Policy

Introduction

At St Ebbe’s School we are committed to inclusion and finding the unique gifts and talents of all our children. We aim to provide a broad curriculum that is personalised to each child’s needs and level of achievement. We plan our teaching and learning in such a way that we enable each child to maximise their potential and this includes pupils who excel in any area. This policy helps to ensure that we recognise and support the needs of those children in our school who are performing or have the potential to perform at the highest levels.

Aims and Objectives

We aim to:

Support and celebrate the levels of achievement, personal qualities and talents of all children within our school

To ensure that all children receive an education appropriate to their level of achievement – to personalise the educational experience for all

To provide teaching that makes learning challenging and enjoyable, including higher order thinking and questioning skills

To employ a creative approach that enables children to develop their full potential

To recognise under-achievement, understand the reasons for it and seek to address them

To offer children opportunities to learn at a deeper level, at a higher level and move on at an appropriate pace

To inspire and encourage children to be aspirational through extra-curricular activities and through curriculum enrichment

Types of Provision

Classroom- learning environment

Teachers have high expectations and promote high aspirations for all

Tasks are designed to take account of levels of existing knowledge, skills and understanding

There are planned extension opportunities or open-ended tasks that challenge

There are opportunities for children to initiate their own learning and development

School based provision

This varies according to subject area and is covered using a variety of methods:

Everyone in school has a responsibility to recognise and value pupils’ levels of achievement. We aim to ensure that all children have opportunities to learn and succeed. For the purpose of monitoring we identify children who attain 'Greater Depth' in all 3 subjects (Reading, Writing and Maths) at the end of Key Stage One. These children are tracked as a cohort alongside their peers to ensure that we are providing appropriately for this group.

Provision for academic high achievers

We aim to:

Provide academic challenge for all children

Maintain an ethos where academic achievement is recognised and is celebrated

Encourage all pupils to be independent learners and to raise personal aspirations

Recognise and celebrate academic achievement

Ensure ethnicity, bilingualism, gender and social circumstances do not impact adversely on learning and high achievement

Provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities and clubs

Management Strategies for academic high achievers

We aim to:

Monitor teaching and learning and the planning and provision that underpin these processes to ensure appropriate levels of challenge

Regularly review the teaching arrangements for academic high achievers

Monitor the progress of academica high achievers through termly discussions with teachers and data analysis

Provide advice and support to staff on teaching and learning strategies for academic high achievers through at least one staff meeting per year

Give feedback to staff about national policy developments

Report to school governors through the Curriculum Committee, where appropriate

Collect samples of work from academica high achievers, in order to moderate standards